Ezra was the author of the book, by his name, and most likely the author
of I and II Chronicles. He was a scribe and not only recorded the
history of Israel but served at the Temple in Jerusalem.

In Ezra 1-6,
we see the record of the rebuilding of the second temple by almost
50,000 Jews that came back from the Babylonian captivity when the
Babylonian Empire fell. Zerubbabel led these Jews back to their homeland
and was the "general contractor" in the rebuilding of the temple in
Jerusalem.

With the Temple up and operating God now calls Ezra the Scribe to
journey back to Jerusalem and become the Scribe at the Temple to lead
the study of the Word of God. Ezra was well studied, "a ready scribe", Ezra 7, verse 6, in the "law of Moses", the Torah, which is the first five books of the Old Testament.

God opened the heart of the Persian king to allow Ezra to return to Jerusalem to do his "priestly duties". Verse 6 tells us that was the case because the "hand of the Lord his God was upon him" (Ezra).

Our key verse lays out for us Ezra's approach for teaching the Word of
God which is also a great pattern for us to follow. Notice that in verse 10,
Ezra "prepared his heart" first. Only a "prepared heart" will seek to
know the Word of the Lord. Before Ezra would preach and teach the Word,
he would "do it". Ezra knew he could not teach that which he was not
willing to live by for his own life.

The final step in the process was the "teaching". Many times we put the
cart ahead of the horse. We want to teach without first preparing our
hearts. As we, I, seek to know the Word we must be living our lives by
His Word before we venture out to teach it to anyone. What great
principles we can appropriate for our own lives and ministries for today
from the book of Ezra.

Before we leave our reading for today, I want you to notice a portion of two verses, verses 6 and 9. Ezra, before he returned to Jerusalem to be the scribe in the newly rebuilt Temple, was living in Babylon.

Ezra 7 is a record of events over 80 years after the fall of the Babylonian Empire, Daniel 5,
and the city of Babylon is still standing. Babylon the Empire fell in
539BC but Babylon the city did not fall. Babylon was a thriving city
some 80 years after the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.

The destruction of Babylon foretold in Revelation 16:17-21 is
a yet future event that will be fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation
period. In fact, the destruction of Babylon is the last thing the Lord
Jesus Christ does before he comes back to the earth, Zechariah 14:4.

By the way, Biblical Babylon is located in Iraq on the shores of the
Euphrates River today. It is the place where Antichrist will rule and
reign over a "one world economic, political, governmental system" in the
last three and a half years of the Tribulation period. The stage is
being set for these Bible prophecies to be fulfilled.

Before these prophecies are fulfilled the Rapture will take place and we
will leave this earth to go be with Jesus in the heavens. Current
events that are taking place in Iraq, Biblical Babylon, are indeed
setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, and I believe in
the near future.

PRAYER THOUGHT: As I understand current events in light of Biblical prophecy, help me, Lord, to live in light of Your soon return.